TWA N52310 AT MIA IN 1992. PHOTO COURTESY OF MR. FRANK SCHAEFER
"THE COMPLETE COMMERCIAL AIRLINER EXPERIENCE!"
LAST UPDATED: 1/29/06
* TURN ON YOUR COMPUTER SPEAKERS TO HEAR THE SOUND CLIP "JETS".
* BEST VIEWED IN "FULL SCREEN" WITH "FAVORITES" MENU OFF.
SEE
AT
"WWW.FLIGHTSIM.COM" 
(CLICK ON ABOVE BANNER FOR CAPT. ANTHONY L. VALLILLO'S ARTICLE )
ALSO SEE
IN
:
MARCH, 2005 FEBRUARY, 2005 DECEMBER, 2004 JULY, 2003
"FOR ONCE YOU HAVE TASTED FLIGHT, YOU WILL WALK THE EARTH WITH YOUR EYES TURNED SKYWARD; FOR THERE YOU HAVE BEEN, AND THERE YOU LONG TO RETURN." -Leonardo da Vinci-
Welcome Aboard PROJECT 727!
For the past 2 years our group has been converting TWA 727-231 / N52310 into a fixed base home flight simulator for private use. The simulator will use Microsoft Flight Simulator as its base system. Most of the work thus far has been focused on restoring both the cockpit and the first class passenger cabin to its former glory using original refurbished Boeing parts. The weathered TWA paint scheme of N52310 has been stripped. We will decide whether to repaint N52310 using its original TWA colors or to apply a livery similar to the new AmericanAirlines / TWA transitional paint scheme to honor both of these great COMMERCIAL AVIATION PIONEERS. Regardless of the paint scheme selected, the soul of our 727 will remain untouched. Our Boeing 727 will always continue to be TWA- N52310! Recently we finished construction of a new hanger which will be N52310 new HUB. Now that the hanger is completed we will soon start converting the 727 into a flight simulator.
The goal is to recreate "THE COMPLETE COMMERCIAL AIRLINER EXPERIENCE". Once the captain and his crew have prepared there flight plan, they will fly to there destination in a real Boeing 727-200 cockpit with its own climate control system and totally submerged into theater sound and MS-FS out of window visuals. The passengers (most likely pilots awaiting to fly the next leg) can enjoy the flight by seeing the terrain and sky scroll by there passenger windows as they enjoy a meal, watch an in-flight movie, listen to stereo headphone music, read an in-flight magazine or rest. Passengers will also hear the simulated 727 engines via a theater sound system as well as the Flight Attendant and Captain briefings over the PA system. Our collection of airline items such as magazines, safety cards, pillows, blankets, boarding music, headphones, silver wear, food trays, stirrers, cups, air sickness bags, life vest, playing cards, and even a original airline food cart plus much more will be available in the first class cabin. As you will see below we have already hired our first Flight Attendant!!!
JOSEPH MALDONADO
VIRTUAL CAPT. & CHIEF PILOT // PROJECT 727
10/20/03
PUBLISHED: 10/20/03
Present cockpit layout Cockpit fully lighted with original lighting
New Hangar with temporary pilots lounge Radome painted with original BAC 707 grey
donated by the PRC DESOTO COMPANY
Flight Engineers station First and Second observer seats
Our senior Flight Attendant Cindy New IN-FLIGHT Movie System
Original Airline items and documents ... With coach triple seats we can sit 6 passengers
Flight Attendant Station with PA System Our first class cabin galley
Our newly finished hangar N52310 the day she arrived at her new HUB
UPDATED: 11/01/03
N52310 GETS A SCRUB DOWN TRANSPORT TO NEW HANGAR
MIP TEMPLATE FITTING THE MIP TEMPLATE
OVERHEAD PANEL
MIP METAL PLATES FITTING THE MIP
SOUND TESTING ON BOARD N52310 "...THE CAPT. HAS NOW TURNED ON THE ..."
ORIGINAL CHECK LISTS WERE INCLUDED OUR RADIO STACK & AUTOPILOT
UPDATED: 11/10/03
A TYPICAL SATURDAY AFTERNOON FLIGHT ENGINEERS STATION
OUR HAGAR WILL HAVE 3 WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE (6 TOTAL) WHEN FINISHED
UPDATED: 11/17/03
OUR 115V AC/400 CYCLES POWER SOURCE A LOOK AT THE "LEFT SEAT"
SETTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR NEXT PROJECT. MORE TO COME...
UPDATED: 11/18/03
AFTER ALL THE SURROUNDING HANGAR CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED WE WILL GIVE N52310 A NEW WAX AND POLISH. WE WILL ALSO INSTALL NEW PLEXIGLAS TO ALL WINDOWS.
MY FIRST OFFICIAL FLIGHT SIMULATOR. THE PAN AM 707 JET COCKPIT MADE BY THE REMCO CO. BACK IN THE EARLY 1970's. I FOUND THIS ONE ON EBAY AND JUST COULD NOT PASS IT UP. A NOSTALGIC ITEM FOR MANY OF US!!!!!
UPDATED: 12/02/03
A SHORT PICTORIAL HISTORY OF N52310 PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF OUR HANGAR.
"A PICTURE CAN SAY A THOUSAND WORDS"
ABOVE PHOTO OF TWA 727-231 / N52310 - COURTESY OF MR. FRANK SHAFFER
WE OBTAINED OUR 727 FROM THE MAX POWER AEROSPACE CO. .
THANKS TO THEIR EXPERTISE AND INGENUITY "PROJECT 727" IS A REALITY TODAY
THE "FINAL FLIGHT" FOR N52310
I SUPERIMPOSED A CUT PHOTO OF A 727 (RIGHT) OVER OURS TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT SHE WILL LOOK LIKE ONCE PAINTED AND POLISHED
TEMPORARY PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER BH (BEFORE HANGAR)
"PROJECT 727" WAS FEATURED IN THE JULY 2003 ISSUE OF THE SMITHSONIAN'S MUSEUM
AIR & SPACE MAGAZINE
UPDATED: 1/22/04
N52310 STARTED OUT THE NEW YEAR (2004) WITH A MAJOR "C" CHECK. WE ARE CURRENTLY REPAINTING THE COCKPIT INTERIOR WITH ITS ORIGINAL COLOR SCHEME.
FLOOR AND YOKES AS DELIVERED. OLD PAINT AND FLOOR PADS WERE STRIPPED
FLOOR AFTER PRIMER FLOOR AFTER PAINT. FLOOR PADS WILL BE ADDED
WORKING ON THE YOKE COLUMNS THE F/E STATION AFTER PRIMER
ALMOST FINISHED YOKES AND FLOOR.
SOON WE WILL BEGIN RESTORATION OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT
ALMOST FINISHED FLIGHT ENGINEERS STATION
UPDATED: 1/29/04
RESTORATION OF REAR COCKPIT BULKHEAD. COCKPIT DOOR WILL FOLLOW
BEFORE
AFTER
UPDATED: 2/24/04
"FINAL APPROACH"
PHOTO FROM THE JOE MALDONADO COLLECTION
AA 727-200 ADV. (1/400 SCALE MODEL MADE BY DRAGON WINGS)
WE'VE STARTED TESTING OUR FORWARD VISUAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE SEVERAL DESIGNS THAT NEED TO BE TESTED BEFORE CHOOSING ONE
WITH BED SHEETS WE WILL MAKE A TEMPORARY "WRAP AROUND" SCREEN FOR TESTING
DAY DUSK
ALTHOUGH THE PLEXIGLAS IS STAINED, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A TASTE OF WHAT'S TO COME
UPDATED: 2/26/04
ALSO STARTED TESTING SEVERAL DESIGNS FOR THE PASSENGER CABIN OUTSIDE VIEW
"... SO SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY THE FLIGHT!"
PARKED AT THE GATE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 3000 FEET
WE PROJECTED THIS HOME VIDEO (RIGHT PHOTO OF 757 WING) FOR COMPARISON
UPDATED: 4/20/04
"POSITIVE RATE, ...GEAR UP"
PHOTO FROM THE JOE MALDONADO COLLECTION
AA 727-100 "RETRO" ( DRAGON WINGS 1/400 SCALE MODEL)
L2 AND R2 WINDOW RESTORATION. NEW FLOOR PADS.
NEW CLOSET AND GALLEY CURTAINS
THIS "EXIT" SIGN WAS ALSO RECENTLY ADDED
AFTER THE COCKPIT FLOOR RESTORATION WAS COMPLETED, EACH CREW SEAT WAS REFURBISHED AND THEN SECURED BACK IN PLACE
BREAKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS. RECOGNIZE THIS WING VIEW ? A 727 WING VIEW SEARCH IS UNDERWAY
THE SIMULATED MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL (MIP) AND ANALOG GAUGES TAKE FORM. (WE NEED HELP HERE! THEREFORE IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN PANEL DESIGNING AND WANT TO HELP THEN PLEASE EMAIL US )
MIP PAPER TEMPLATE FOR TESTING
UPDATED: 6/14/04
"CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, RWY..."
PHOTO FROM THE JOE MALDONADO COLLECTION
USPS 727-100 ( 1/400 SCALE MODEL)
APRIL, 2004 BROUGHT IN PROJECT 727'S TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY WHICH WAS CELEBRATED WITH A NEW EMBLEM BANNER AND NEW EMBROIDED POLO SHIRTS AND HATS FOR THE CREW.
AFTER THE CELEBRATION WORK CONTINUED WITH FIRST THE RESTORATION OF OUR GLARE SHIELD AND WINDSHIELD CENTER POST
BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
CENTER POST ALMOST COMPLETED
FEW MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS WERE ALSO RESTORED FOR ADDED REALISM
A FAMILIAR FLIGHT SIM PANEL VIEW FOR MANY
OUR CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT WAS FINALLY INSTALLED FOR ADDED COMFORT IN THE PASSENGER CABIN AND COCKPIT.
OUR CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT IS BARELY NOTICEABLE YET VERY VERY EFFICIENT!!!
NEW L 1 AND R 1 PLEXIGLAS WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED.
BELOW IS THE AIRFRAME AFTER AN APPLICATION OF ALUMINUM RUBBING COMPOUND. NEXT WE WILL APPLY ALUMINUM POLISH TO BRING OUT A MIRROR LIKE SHINE. WE ARE USING THE SAME COMPOUNDS USED BY THE MAYOR AIRLINES TO POLISH THERE JETS.
UPDATED: 7/12/04
"FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ...
PLEASE PREPARE FOR GATE DEPARTURE".
PHOTOS FROM THE JOE MALDONADO COLLECTION
OUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PREPARATIONS FOR THE JULY 4, 2004 CELEBRATION WITH LOCAL REAL WORLD AND VIRTUAL PILOTS
WE ARE INTERESTED IN ADDING A 1/20 OR 1/25 SCALE MODEL OF A 727-200 TO OUR COLLECTION. IF YOU HAVE ONE AND WANT TO SELL IT THEN SEND US AN EMAIL
OUR COLLECTION OF 727 MANUALS, TAPES, DVD'S AND OUR RC BLIMP. REAL COOL TO FLY HIGH WITHIN THE HANGAR.
SOME GALLEY ITEMS WERE ALSO ON DISPLAY. ALL ORIGINAL AIRLINE ITEMS
UPDATED: 8/23/04
"AFTER START CHECKLIST PLEASE..."
PHOTO FROM THE J.M. COLLECTION
1/400 SCALE DELTA 727-100
EMERGENCY EVACUATION SLIDE COVERS FOR THE L-I AND R-1 DOORS WERE RECENTLY ADDED.
BEFORE AFTER
THE ORIGINAL CHECKLIST HOLDER WAS WARPED FROM MANY YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO SUN HEAT. TO RESTORE IT WE CAREFULLY APPLIED HEAT FROM A TORCH. IT NOW LOOKS MINT FROM THE PILOTS SEAT AND IS FUNCTIONAL AGAIN.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY OUR 727 GAUGES CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO HERE.
727 WING VIEW
WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THAT PERFECT 727 WING VIEW. IF YOU KNOW OF ONE OR CAN DEVELOP ONE FOR US THEN PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL!
POTENTIOMETERS WERE RECENTLY ATTACHED TO THE YOKES AND THROTTLES. STILL HAVE MANY MORE POTS AND SWITCHES TO INTERFACE BEFORE SAYING "GOOD BYE" TO OUR KEYBOARD.
BELOW ARE SOME STILL FRAMES FROM A DVD-VIDEO WE ARE FILMING. THEY MAY TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DOWNLOAD.
OUR FLIGHT ENGINEER WAS FILMING THE VIDEO AND PERFORMING HIS DUTIES AT THE SAME TIME!
BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST...
80 KNOTS..., V 1 ..., ROTATE ...,
CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 10,000 FT, TURN LEFT HEADING 270, TWA 310 HEAVY
TWA 310 HEAVY, YOUR CLEARED TO LAND RWY...
100 FT ......., 50...., 30.., 20.., 10.., xxxxxxxx
TWA 310 HEAVY, EXIT RWY ..., CONTACT GROUND AT...
...TAXI TO GATE 5 USING TAXIWAY LIMA, TWA 310 HEAVY.
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, PLEASE PREPARE FOR GATE ARRIVAL.
UPDATED: 9/6/04
PHOTO FROM THE J.M. COLLECTION
1/400 SCALE MODEL-PAN AM BOEING 727-200
"...PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FORWARD MONITORS FOR A BRIEF AND IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE..."
OUR AUTHENTIC AIRLINER SAFETY BRIEFING VIDEO
NOTE:
ALTHOUGH THIS IS A 737-400 SAFETY VIDEO, THE GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION REMAINS THE SAME FOR THE 727-200. THE REALISM FACTOR INCREASES SEVERAL NOTCHES IN THE PASSENGER CABIN WITH THIS VIDEO. MOST, IF NOT ALL, 727's DID NOT HAVE OVERHEAD MONITORS. THEREFORE FINDING A 727 SAFETY VIDEO MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. WITH THE HELP OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FRIEND WE HOPE TO FILM OUR OWN SAFETY VIDEO UNIQUE TO PROJECT 727.
"...THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WILL BE SHORTLY PASSING BY TO SERVE YOU A MEAL AND A BEVERAGE OF YOUR CHOICE..."
BREAKFAST LUNCH / DINNER
OUR TABLEWARE COLLECTION IS STILL VERY YOUNG, BUT SLOWLY GROWING.
WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO STAY AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE TO ENHANCE OUR AIRLINE MEMORABILIA COLLECTION AND THE SIMS REALISM
PHOTO TAKEN WITH FLASH
PHOTOS WITHOUT FLASH ( TRUE LIGHTING). STILL SEARCHING FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND OFFICER JACKETS AND HATS. IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE ITEMS AND WANT TO SELL THEM PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL BELOW.
AUTHENTIC TWA BOEING 727-200 OPERATIONS / FLIGHT MANUAL
UPDATED: 10/15/04
PHOTO FROM THE JM COLLECTION
1/400 SCALE MODEL. GEMINI JETS EASTERN 727-200
MAJOR PROGRESS ON OUR BOEING 727-200 SIMULATOR PANEL DESIGN:
AFTER MANY MONTHS OF TRIAL AND ERROR I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REPLICATE THE 727 GAUGES. THIS PANEL AND ALL OF ITS GAUGES ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL WITH FS2004! YOU CAN FLY A COMPLETE INSTRUMENT FLIGHT ( IFR ) FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITHOUT THE FORWARD OUT OF WINDOW VIEW. AUTOPILOT IS ALSO FUNCTIONAL.
NEXT WE NEED TO FIND MONITORS THAT WILL FIT IN PLACE IN THE COCKPIT AND HAVE THE MIP CUT OUT IN METAL, THEN PAINTED WITH BEZELS AND PLEXIGLAS INCLUDED FOR ADDED REALISM. WARNING / KORRY LIGHTS, ROTARY SWITCHES AND OTHER PANEL ITEMS WILL EVENTUALLY ALL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL PANEL.
NEW AC POWER SUPPLY ON TOP. HOME MADE PROTOTYPE PROJECTOR STAND
OLD DC POWER SUPPLY ON THE BOTTOM
"THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE"
THESE STILL FRAMES WERE TAKEN FROM A VIDEO WE FILMED WHILE FLYING EACH OF THESE SIMULATORS IN JULY, 2001.
BOEING 727 SIMULATORS
BOEING 727 SIM
BOEING 767-300 SIMULATOR AIRBUS A-300 SIMULATOR
BOEING 737-400 SIMULATOR
UPDATED: 11/8/04
"PROJECT 727" IS FEATURED IN THE PAGES OF "Airways" MAGAZINE. OUR MOST SINCERE THANKS TO THE AUTHOR, AIRWAYS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CAPT. DAVE ENGLISH WHO HONORED US WITH HIS VISIT AND TO THE EDITOR IN CHIEF MR. JOHN WEGG . DAVE FLEW WITH US ONBOARD TWA N5231O FIRST AS A PASSENGER AND THEN AS A CREW MEMBER TO GET THE" COMPLETE COMMERCIAL AIRLINER EXPERIENCE! ". DAVE HAS A FANTASTIC WEB SITE ON "AVIATION QUOTES" AND OTHER AVIATION LITERATURE RELATED TOPICS AT www.skygod.com
UPDATED: 12/9/04
WORKING ON A NEW LOGO
PROGRESS WITH OUR BOEING 727-200 MIP REPLICA. WE CALL THIS MIP OUR "FIRST GENERATION MIP". AS SECOND, THIRD AND OTHER VERSIONS EVOLVE WE HOPE TO COME AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE REAL THING !
METAL MIP WITH SLOTS CUT OUT. FITTING THE GAUGES WITH THE MIP.
PLEXIGLAS BEZEL REPLICAS. REAL BEZEL with REPLICA BEZEL.
FITTING THE BEZELS TO THE METAL MIP. STILL LOTS OF WORK TO DO BEFORE PAINTING. WE WILL USE OUR ORIGINAL LANDING GEAR PANEL WITH THIS MIP.
UPDATED: 1/2/05
PROGRESS WITH OUR "FIRST GENERATION MIP":
STILL HAVE LOTS OF DECALS, PLACARDS, KNOBS, SWITCHES AND "K" LIGHTS TO ADD.
HOME MADE KNOBS CAPT. PANEL
CENTER ENGINE INSTRUMENT PANEL
FIRST OFFICERS PANEL
ALL 3 PANELS TOGETHER
UPDATED: 2/17/05
PROGRESS WITH OUR MIP REPLICA REMAINS SLOW, BUT STEADY. STILL HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO MAKE AND ADD BEFORE COMPLETED. REPLICATING THE PANEL TAKES LOTS OF TIME AND WORK SINCE ALL PARTS ARE RECREATED FROM SCRATCH UNLIKE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PREFABRICATED "NEW GENERATION" AIRLINER PANEL KITS. LOTS OF PATIENCE NEEDED, ... AS ONE LEARNS VERY EARLY IN "MODEL BUILDING 101".
UPDATED: 5/15/05
JANUARY-2005 WAS A VERY SPECIAL MONTH FOR PROJECT 727. WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE CAPTAIN ANTHONY L. VALLILLO (AKA TONY VALLILLO) VISIT OUR HANGAR AND FLY WITH US ABOARD N52310.
AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, CAPT. VALLILLO IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR AIRLINE CAPTAIN AND AN ACCOMPLISHED AVIATOR. HE IS ALSO A FLIGHT SIM ENTHUSIASTS AND PIONEER WHO HAS EXTENSIVELY CONTRIBUTED THROUGH OUT THE YEARS TO THE EVOLUTION AND THE ON GOING GROWTH OF OUR HOBBY. YOU WILL FIND IN THE "READ ME" TEXT OF MANY BIG NAME SOFTWARE AUTHORS (WHICH GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO MR. BRIAN QUAYLE) A "THANK YOU" ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO CAPT. A. L. VALLILLO FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANY AIRCRAFT AND/OR SCENERIES WE HAVE ALL ENJOYED.
ALSO AS AN ACCOMPLISHED WRITER, CAPT. VALLILLO HAS INTRODUCED THE FLIGHT SIM COMMUNITY TO MANY ASPECTS OF REAL WORLD COMMERCIAL AVIATION. MORE RECENTLY TONY WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT HIS VISIT TO PROJECT 727 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY WWW.FLIGHTSIM.COM IN FEBRUARY-2005 (go to the top of this page to read the article).
I WAS HONORED TO HAVE TONY FLY WITH ME AS MY BOEING 727-200 SIMULATOR VIRTUAL CHECK AIRMAN. AFTER THE CHECK RIDE CAPT. VALLILLO CERTIFIED ME AS A "VIRTUAL-FLIGHT SIMULATOR ATP". ....WOW !!! AND GAVE HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL TO THE AUTHENTICITY AND REALISM OF THE PROJECT 727 EXPERIENCE! HOWEVER, THE BEST PART FOR ME WAS THEN FLYING AS F/O AND WATCHING THIS MASTER AVIATOR FLY N52310 WITH EXPERT PRECISION, GRACE AND EASE.
THE PROJECT 727 ORGANIZATION AWARDED CAPT. A. L.VALLILLO ITS "LIFETIME SENIOR CREW MEMBER AWARD" AND ITS "OUTSTANDING WRITER AND ARTICLE AWARD" FOR 2005.
TONY, ...ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT PROJECT 727 AND THE FLIGHT SIM COMMUNITY I THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR PASSION FOR THIS HOBBY AND FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS OF KEEPING "THE SPIRIT OF FLIGHT" ALIVE AND STRONG WITHIN ALL OF US WHO, DUE TO "LIFE'S MANY DIFFERENT FLIGHT PATHS", HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REALIZE OUR DREAMS OF COMMERCIAL FLIGHT.
CAPT. ANTHONY L. VALLILLO...,
YOU ARE A TRUE HONORABLE AMBASSADOR OF "THE SPIRIT OF FLIGHT"!
UPDATED: 5/15/05
PROGRESS ON OUR MIP REPLICA HAS BEEN SLOW, ALTHOUGH STILL ON GLIDE SLOPE.
TO MUCH FLASH, BUT THE ESSENCE IS THERE
UPDATED:8/5/05
FINALLY...!!!!
AFTER MANY YEARS OF PLANNING, TRIAL AND ERROR AND HARD WORK WE ARE NOW STARTING TO BRING BACK TRUE LIFE INTO THE COCKPIT OF N52310 WITH THE INSTALLATION OF OUR OWN CUSTOM BUILT MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE "CAPTAIN" AND "COPILOT" MAIN INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND FUNCTION BEAUTIFULLY!
WE HOPE TO INSTALL THE "ENGINE" AND "STAND BY" INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS AS WELL AS A AUTOPILOT AND NAV/COM RADIOS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE,
THE REALISM FACTOR HAS NOW RISEN TO INCALCULABLE HEIGHTS!!!
CAPTAINS VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS COPILOTS VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS
THE ABOVE RIGHT PHOTO WAS TAKEN BEFORE INSTALLING THE COPILOTS PANEL. COMPARE THE CAPTAINS "VIRTUAL" PANEL WITH THE "REAL" COPILOTS PANEL.
THE LAST TWO PHOTOS SHOW THE "CAPTAIN" AND "COPILOT" VIRTUAL PANELS INSTALLED. TO BAD THESE ARE LOW RESOLUTION PHOTOS.
OUR NEW PROJECT 727 CREW MEMBER "KID WINGS" FOR KIDS OF "ALL AGES" WHO VISIT OUR HANGAR.
UPDATED: 8/18/05
MORE PANEL PHOTOS.
NOTAM:
THESE PHOTOS DO NOT DO THE PANEL JUSTICE. IN REALITY THE TEXTURES OF THE VIRTUAL GAUGES LOOK VERY REAL AND DO NOT LOOK AS LUMINOUS OR BRIGHT AS THEY APPEAR IN THESE PHOTOS.
ALTHOUGH OUR HUMBLE PHOTOS SHOW OUR OBVIOUS LACK OF PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERTISE THEY AT LEAST TRY TO PROJECT THE OVERALL IMPACT THIS PANEL REPLICA HAS HAD ON THE SIM ;). THE COCKPIT IS NOW TRULY ALIVE!!!
UPDATED: 12/23/05
THE 727'S OLDER SISTER WORKHORSE, THE VENERABLE DC-3, ...STILL FLYING PROUDLY TODAY
A CLOSER VIEW OF THE CAPTAINS VIRTUAL PANEL. COMPARE THE "REAL" STANDBY GAUGES WITH THE CAPT. V. GAUGES. WE WILL SOON ACQUIRE ANOTHER COMPUTER FOR THE VIRTUAL STANDBY AND ENGINE GAUGES.
A CLOSER VIEW OF THE COPILOT VIRTUAL GAUGES. ALSO NOTE THE CUSTOM MADE REGISTRATION NUMBER PLAQUE.
RECENT ACQUISITIONS TO OUR COLLECTION:
SPECIAL EDITION SILVER WINGS. CUSTOM MADE ID PLAQUES FOR OUR PANEL.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF SEVERAL ARTIFACTS FOUND WITHIN TWA N52310 AND SAVED DURING THE INITIAL CLEAN UP OF THE AIRFRAME.
WE RECENTLY ACQUIRED A FIST OFFICERS JACKET AND A F/O-S/O HAT. NOTICE THE HAT HAS THE PROJECT 727 SILVER WINGS. WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A S/O JACKET AND HAT TO COMPLETE THE 3 MAN CREW COLLECTION.
DURING THE SIMS "DOWN TIME" VISITORS CAN ENJOY THE 727 AS A STATIC MUSEUM DISPLAY. EVERYONE IS WELCOMED ABOARD BY PROJECT 727'S "CAPTAIN SAM FISHER" WHO WILL ALSO OFFER VISITORS A SIMPLE TOUR OF THE COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS (ONCE WE INSTALL A SPEAKER SYSTEM INTO HIM :).
A NEW BEVERAGE PITCHER FOR OUR FOOD CART AND THE "AIRPORT" MOVIE COLLECTION FOR IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT!
"ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES"
SINCE 10/20/03
